He did not smile. He was not the man to remind a woman of her falseness, but something in his eyes made her falter and lower her own. "I went away because I was tired of England," he said. "I came back because--well, because I was obliged." "But you won't go away again?" she said, with genuine dismay in her voice and face. "I--I feel as if, as if it were my fault; as if--ah, Drake, have you not really forgiven me?" Her eyes filled with tears, as genuine as her dismay--for think of the greatness of the prize for which she was playing--and Drake's heart was touched with a pity which was not wholly free from contempt. "There shall be no such word as forgiveness between us, Luce," he said gravely. She caught at this, though it was but a straw, and her hand, from which she had taken her glove, stole over to his, and her eyes sought his appealingly. But before he could take her hand--if he had intended doing so--Lady Angleford came up to them. "Drake, they want you to lead the cotillon," she said. He rose, but stood beside Luce. "Directly Lady Luce has finished her supper, countess. Please don't hurry." But Lady Luce sprang up at once. "I have finished long ago; I was not hungry." "Come, then," he said, and he offered her his arm, "Will you dance it with me?" Her heart leaped. "Yes. It will not be for the first time--Drake!" and as she entered the room with him, her heart thrilled with hope, and her blue eyes sparkled with a triumph which none could fail to notice. CHAPTER XXX. Certainly not poor Nell, who still remained in her dim corner in the gallery. Mrs. Hawksley had begged her to come down to the supper which had been laid for her and her brother and Falconer; but Nell, who felt that it would be impossible to make even a pretense of eating or drinking, had begged them to excuse her; and when they had gone and the gallery was empty, she leaned her head against the wall and closed her eyes; for she was well-nigh exhausted by the conflicting emotions which racked her. She longed to go, to leave the place, to escape from the risk of Drake's presence; but she could not leave the house alone, and to go from the gallery and absent herself for the rest of the evening might attract notice and comment. Was it possible that Drake had been near her, so near as to almost have touched her? She trembled--and thrilled--at the thought; then crimsoned with shame for the sinful thrill of joy and happiness which his nearness had caused her. What was he to her now? Nothing, nothing! She had yielded him up to the beautiful woman he had loved before he saw her, Nell; and it was shameful and unwomanly that she should feel a joy in his proximity. Falconer came up before the rest of the orchestra, and brought a glass of wine and a biscuit for her. "I am afraid you have a headache, the lights and the music--they are so near; and it is hot up here. Will you drink some of this, Miss Lorton?"